Sash balance



March 6, 1945. c uc 2,370,867

SASH BALANCE Filed May '7, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVBVTOR.

[Mar & Lama Patented Mar. 6, 1945 UNITED STA ES PATENT orFicE sAsn BALANCE Robert (l'L'uce, Grand Rapids, Mich. Application May 7, 1942, Serial No. 442,018

13 Claims. (01. 16-197) This invention relates .to improvements in sash balances. Q I

The main objects of this invention are: First, to provide an improved sash balance including a rotatable element having a spiral track and a torsion member. of improved simplified construction slidably engageable in said track, the said member having :improved means for connecting the same to a window frame.

Second, to provide-an improved sash balance construction including a rotating tubular member having a spiral track, and a relativelyfixed element coacti-ng therewith, and means for operatively associating said element with-a window sash and frame. I

Third, to provide an improved sashbalance of simplified, compact and inexpensive structure. Objects. relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, -in

which: q

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view partially broken away and in verticalsection illustrating the balance of the invention. operatively associated with a window sash and its frame. 1

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in rear elevation,

particularly illustrating the torsion member and. the securing or mounting meansincluded in the invention. r

Fig. 3 is a viewin side elevation of the sash balance per se,- and Fig. 4 is an enlargedview in section on a line correspondingto line 4-4 of Figs..2 and 3,fur-' ther illustrating details of the balance structure, particularly the torsion member mounting.

Fig. 5 isan enlarged view in vertical section illustrating in greater detail certaincstructural features characterizing the balance shown,

Figs. 14. Fig. 6 is a view in section on a line corresponding toline 6-6 ofFig. 5. a Fig. 7 is a rear view of a modifiedformoftorsion member contemplated bytmy invention. Fig. 8 is anenlarged viewxin sectionon lines 8-8 of Fig.,'7,further illustrating details of the torsion member of that figure.

Fig. 9 'is a rear view illustrating a still further modified form of torsion member, and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding .to line In 10 ofFig.9. w

Referring to the drawings,the reference numeral lv designates a window frame in'which u'pper and lower sashes 2, 3 areslidably mounted. I have illustrated the lower sash only as equipped with a balance embodying the invention generally designated 4. Howevenit is to be understood that if desired vbothysashes'may be correspondingly equipped, at eitherone or both sides thereof. g

.As illustratedin Fig. '1, the sash 3 is provided with a vertical, groove 5 intermediate its front and rear sides extendingv the length of the sash and receiving the balance 4. This balance consists of an elongated sheet or strip of relatively rigid metal spirally twisted to provide an elongated tube 6, with the edges of the .strip spaced substantially from one another to provide a spiral slot-like track I. At its upper end the tube is provided with an internal sleeve 8 to which the tube is secured by indenting the same at 9. The

sleeve 8 serves as ajournal for rotatably mounting the tube on a downturned trunnion pinlll,

this ,pin having a lateral ear ll adapted to re,

ceive a securing screw I2. A thrust washer or collar l2l is positioned at the upper end of sleeve 8. V

..At its lower end, tubes 6 is afllxed to a further sleeve member ill by indentation M. This sleeve l3 has ratchet teeth'l5 on its upper edge which coact with similar teeth on a tension adjusting a ratchet l6 secured by indentation I! to a verticaladjusting pin l8. This pin'is journaled in a bracket 19 adapted to be secured by screw 20 to the adjacent lower end of the sash. The pins l0,

' ,l8 extend substantiallyinwardly of the tubes 6 beyond the sleeves 8, I6, respectively, and at their inner extremity have frictionally engaged therewith an elongated coil torsion spring 2|. A non- ,metallic silencing rod 22 is disposed internally of spring 2i between the extremities of pins l0, I8

to prevent lateral instability of the spring andto silence the operation of the latter. I provide a torsion member of improved and simplified structure to coact with the tube-6. This .torsion memberconsists of a resilient, downwardly extending'spring attaching arm 23 apertured at 24 adjacent its upper end for the reception of a screw 25 which secures the same to the window frame 1 adjacent the top of sash 3.

' Adjacent its lower end the spring attaching arm 23 is provided with two laterally-spaced vertically-extending slots 26 and is offset rearwardly at 21 between these slots, thereby resulting in provision of openings which communicate rearwardly and laterally with the rear or outer sid of the attaching arm. I

The reference numeral '28 indicates an annular, torsion member formed of a. relatively rigid strip of metal which is conformed medially of the bight thereof to provide an inclined, inwardly offset follower portion 29 slidably engageable in the spiral groove 1 in tube 6, whereby vertical movement of the tube relative to the torsion member 28 results in rotation of the tube and torsioning of spring 2!. The torsion member 28 has terminal legs 38 ofiset radially therefrom for insertion "through the slots or 1 passages (28, 26, and followin'gjnsertion in this manner theleg's 30 are crimped or bent away from one another at 3| into clamping engagement with the rear of the attaching spring arm 23, thereby securely connecting torsion member 28 to the latter and-constituting the members 23 and 28: in-effect an integral, highly simplified and compact torsion structure.

In operation, with the parts installed-as illustrated in Fig. 1, vertical shifting of the sash results'in tensioni-ng or the torsion 4 spring :"2 L :In

'installing the 'balance, with the-:'attachingear I I of pin lfl and bracket 1 lflisecured to :the sash and the: attachingarm 23 'for the fixed torsion mem- "loer 28 secured 'tothje trame by screw- 25 a't a point 'im'mediately above-the s'ashpthe opposite'spring anchoring pin 18 of the balance is rotated by meansuof aesuitable tool applied to'the lower end --'o'f the tool to' 'regulate the initial torsion of spring 2 Iube 6- is restrained fromi-rotation by torsion ineirlber 2; and' the :eoacting rat'chet te'eth of lowermost sle'eves M3, L6 enable rotation or pin 48 for this murpose. When the torsion is prope'rly-adjuste d thebalance'is readyfor operation.

Ihe foregoi'n'g balance i's characterized pri- -niari1y b'y its simplicity andeconomy F of prod'uc- "tiO'n. The 'methdd (if fabi icatin'g the tQISi'On 'm'ember and J attaching spring 1 arm 23 therefor I- regard as' entirel-y novel with me. 'This pro- '-vides a spiral g'roove follower '29 which has a substahtial positive engagement ill tl-ack 1 a'fid iS ver-y efiective for its pur'pose,notwithstanding its inexpensiveness. The method of clam-pingly 'sec'urin g the tor's'ion me'mber 2 8 to'thesprin'g arm 23 fsupporting tlie saine 'is exceedin'gly simple 'and ver effective on its functionof: connecting the'se inenibers t'o'gethe'r in a -substantially iri teg ral -mann=en 'Resi'lierit arm 2-3 is readily yieldable uaterauy toward or zrrom-the sash in-"orderto enable proper engagement of the (torsion mem'ber 28 with the tube, hence n'o special care 'need be taken: in properly'aligning these p'arts. -hs -stated above, the .present iconstruotion'tlispens'es with "the need fora pi-vbted tlibe tourmalin 'pin at the upper end of the' tubey and in this res'pect,

. the eonstruction is further simplified and-re'duced incost. lt' may be readily and quickly installed by comparatively inexperienced persons.

In Figs. 5 and fi-details of the tubular struc- 'ture inc'luding th'espirally twisted --tube 8, the :j corner: sleeves '8, J3, and the torsion spring 2| are shown in greater detaiL' a's =-well "85 12118 111- --d'ented enga ement of the tubejili with-the sleeves "8, 13 at 9, l 4, respectively, itbeing noted -=that "said sleeves are provided with openings 32 -for the reception of the indentations. "I'his constitutes a very simpleg quick,inexpensive, yethig-hly effective means for-directing said connection.

"-In "Figs. '-7 and 8 "I illustrate an alternative form of torsion "member, designated "33, which may besubstituted *for the composite torsion "member 23, 28- of igs. 1 4if f'desired. Member 33 has the advantage thatit provides a sepa- "rate track follower element 'engage'able "in the spiral groove or track of the tube 6, which follower element may be fabricated of bras for its desirable wearing quality, without entailing the use of an excessive amount of this metal. As illustrated, the member 33 comprises a sheet metal stamping, for example, of steel, formed to provide an elongated flexible arm 34 having an aperture 35 for the reception of a securing screw by which it is attached to the window frame, and i -at it opposite-end provided with -lateral arms 36,11 which' are bentlto-annular form with the ends of said arms in meeting relation. They may be secured to one another in this relation by a dovetail joint. The so conformed arms 36, 3'! l5 embrace the tube 6 and, to furnish a track engaging element engageable in spiral groove 1; are provided with axially spaced, laterally off- "setfihor'iz'ontal 'slots into which the ends 38 of -the strip-like brass bearing insert or track fol- -lower'39 are inserted. This element is disposed interior-1y of athe 1-an'nular portion iof athe atorsion member and the ends 38 thereof are claimed over on i the exterior 20f s'aid member into "rigid se'curingfrelatiorrthereto. sThetbr-ass followerdis- 1: .posed .interi'orly on the: torsion: member inclined relative ato the axis 16f :th'e torsion 2 member, as clearly illustratedsimi lig. 7, sol-as'toslidei in the spiral Jtrack :withiaiminimum of friction. This structun iprovides aitorsion members-having'the 3o -desire'd bearing "and wearingnqualities aof. rbrass .whiletutilizingaaniinimumlainount of: that metal.

:In Figs. 19 and :10 I t-illustrate :a further modified form :of "torsion i member, :generally similar to that of Figs. 7 "and 8, save 'for 'the -fact that the track follower is integral withtthe remainder i'of the torsion? member, beingtprovided by slitting fithe "annularrportion 34 9 at :the' inclined horizontal *spaced islits "48, "ill and Pinw'ardly .r'oflse'tting the metal "between :these 'slits :to rcon'stitute fa sui- M0 ficiently large; inwardlytconcavedztrack engaging element fl' as illustrated ln'iFig. 10. Other parts :of .theitorsion-member:bear the-same designating numerals as in Figs; 7 and 8.

Enibodiments Tof :the invention :which Ji'ncor- -Jporate? the:zprincfplesrofz-thei-invention in re. highly 'fdesirableimanner haveribeeniillustrate'd Sand-:described, though I am avvare that otherfiembodimentgwithin the in-tentfof the: invention will sugshou ld i'bethnderstood what I-the' foregoin'gfiterminology is used only descriptively ratherithanain a limi'ting sense5a'nd ii'lithifull i intention to. include equivalents of the features showneandwdescribed; withinathe seopez'of itha following claims. Having thus 'ides'cribed my. invention, "what 1 claimas newend -fdesi're to's'ec'ure i;loy.:12ettersrPatent is: e

1.:In-'-a'-=sash balance, the'conlbination sof-ia' rotatable' tubiilar member havingza spiraligrooveia rjeurnel' member projectin'g iint'o "said tube and having an integral laterally ofiset attachihgrear, 'a journal ineihber for the lowerienulof't said-tube rotatable therewith, a torsion s'pring sdispose'd "within said tube ano seeuredfati'its ren'us to' said jouma'l members, an anuular torsion :member embracin d siid'ahly ire'ceivin saiu tube iand navin an integral ofl'set'iportion enga in said groove, and a spring tittachi ng arm t-OFSIIM'IOI- sio'n "member, saiu-attadmng arm-bein provided with laterally spaeee siocs diacent' thejfree end "thereof, said torsioh me'znber having the 'e'nds therofmispuseu' througnsaid slots and fo'lded upon the rear side of said attaching -a'rrnp s'aid erm being eisposed m nexuaterany f to :andf from "said tubiilar member'to iiemnt raryremmgaesnigestathemselves to thosesskilled'finJtheIart. :It I

ient connection between the-tubular memberxand a window frame. r s

r 2. In a sash balance, theicombination of a retatable tubular member having a spiral track, a -jour'nal member'projecting into oneend of said tubular member. and. provided with a laterally offset attaching ear rigid with said journal member, a journal member for the other end of said tubular member rotatable therewith, a torsion spring disposed within said tubular member and secured at its ends to said journal members, an

annular torsion member embracing and slidably receiving said tubular member and having an integral portion engaging said track, and a resilient attaching arm for said torsion member, :said' arm being disposed to flex laterally to and from saidtubular member to permit of a yielding resilient connection between the tubular member and a window frame.

3. In a sash balance, .the combination of a rotatable tubular member having a spiral track, a

journal member projecting into one end of said tubular member and provided with an integral laterally offset attaching ear,-a journal member for the other endof said tubular member rotatable'therewith, a torsion spring .disposed within said tubular member and secured at its ends to said journal members, a torsion member coacting with said track and slidably receiving said tubular member, and a resilient attaching arm for saidsion member of an integral piece of sheet metal in surrounding sliding relation to said tube and engaging said track, said torsion member having radially extending free ends, and a Vertically elongated spring attaching strip secured at one 'end to said window frame and provided at the other end with spaced slots extending lengthwise of said spring strip and in which the radially extending free ends Of said torsion member are receivable to bind'ingly engage the said torsion member to the strip, said spring attaching strip being disposed to flex laterally to and from said tube to permit of a yielding resilient connection between said tube and said window frame.

5. In combination with a rotatable tubular balance member adapted to be rotatably mounted on a window sash at its ends and provided with a spiral track, a relatively fixed torsion member comprising a bight-like strip of sheet metal having an integral element bendably offset therefrom for sliding engagement with said track, and an elongated resilient attaching arm adapted to be secured at one end to a window frame and adjacent the other end provided with spaced slots lockingly receiving the ends of said bight-like strip to thereby secure the latter on the attaching arm, said attaching arm flexing as desired for proper alignment of thetorsion member thereon withsaid tubular balance member, said arm being disposed to flex laterally to and from said tubular balance member to permit of yielding resilient connection between said tubular balance member and a window frame.

6. In combination with a rotatable tubular balance member adapted to be rotatably mounted on awindow sash at its ends, and provided ,witha spiral track, a relatively fixed torsion member comprising abightrlike strip of sheet metal having, ,an integral element for sliding. engagement with said track, and an elongated resilient attachv.ing' arm adapted to be securedvat one end to a window frameand adjacent the other end provided with spaced slots lockingly receiving the ends ofsaid bight-like strip to thereby, secure the latter on the attaching arm, said attaching arm flexing as desired for proper alignment of the torsionamember'thereon with said tubular balancemember, said arm being disposed to flex laterally .to and from said tubular balance member to permit of yieldingresilient connection between said tubular balance member and; a. window .frame.. i '7. In a sash balance, in combination with a rotatable tube having a spiral groove, means for rotatably journaling said tube'at its ends and for securing the same in rotatably mounted position on a window sash to extend longitudinally thereof, a torsion spring operatively connected with said tube to resiliently bias the same relatively, and meanscoacting with the tube for torsioning said spring as the sash is moved vertically, comprising an elongated vertically extending spring arm of resilient material adapted to be secured at one end thereof to awindow frame adjacentthe same, said. arm having laterally spaced perforations'therein adjacentthe other end thereof, and an annular'bight-like torsion member surroundingsaid tube in vertically sliding relation thereto and provided with an integral inwardly offset follower element adjacent the tube engaging in the helical groove of the latter, said last named member having radially projecting arms extending through the perforations in said resilient-member and offset oppositely into clamping engagement with the latter'whereby said torsion means is resiliently mounted in alignment with the tube, said arm being disposed substantially parallel to said tube and disposed to flex laterally to and from said tube to permit of a resilient connection r between said tube and a window frame.

8. In a sash balance, in combination with a rotatable tube having a spiral groove, means for rotatably journaling said tubeat its ends and for securing the same in rotatably mounted position on a window sash to extend longitudinally thereof, said means including a journal member projecting longitudinally into one end of said tube and provided with an integral laterally offset attaching ear, a torsion spring operatively connected with said. tube to resiliently bias the same'relatively, and means coacting with the tube for torsioning said spring as the sash is moved vertically, comprising an elongated vertically extending spring arm disposed lengthwise of said tube and of resilient material adapted to be secured at one end thereof to a window frame adjacent the sash, and a groove-engaging torsion member embracing said tube and secured to the other end of said arm, said arm being disposed substantially parallel to said tube and disposed to flex laterally to and from said'tube to permit of a resilient connection between said tube and a window frame.

9. In combination with a rotatable tubular sash balance member having means for mounting the same for ro-tative movement and provided with a spiral track extending longitudinally thereof, a torsion member relative to which said balance member moves axially, comprising an elongated flexible attaching arm adapted to be 

